New technologies and research methods in business law: seminar series for early career researchers
A seminar series by the Centre for Business Law and Practice (CBLP) explores new technologies and research methods in business law, supporting early career researchers and postgraduate researchers.
The Centre for Business Law and Practice (CBLP) at the School of Law, led by Director Professor Duncan Sheehan and Deputy Director Dr Virág Blazsek, in collaboration with postgraduate researcher Maria-Anda Busuioc, hosted two insightful seminars in Semester 1 of the 2024/25 academic year.
The sessions provide a platform for learning from both external and internal speakers, fostering discussions on contemporary research methodologies while supporting the academic and career development of early career researchers (ECRs) and postgraduate researchers (PGRs).
By attracting distinguished speakers, the seminars also bolster the CBLP’s reputation as a leading research centre in business law. In the autumn 2024 semester, the series focused on the role of new technologies in shaping research methods.
Seminar highlights: Exploring Digital Transformation in Rural China and AI-Powered Research Methods in Business Law
On 4 December 2024, the first seminar featured Mr Peng Wu, a distinguished alumnus of the School of Law (LLM Class of 2020). Currently a Visiting Researcher at the University of Oxford and a PhD candidate at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Mr Wu employs an interdisciplinary, interview-based research approach. Following his talk titled, 'Digital Revolution in Rural China: The Rebellion of Commercial Bureaucracy and the Reinvention of the Spirit of Capitalism,' Mr Wu reflected on the seminar, sharing:
It truly felt like being back home. It was such a pleasure to hear everyone’s feedback, and the discussions were incredibly motivating as I work towards completing my doctoral thesis.
The second seminar, held on 12 December 2024, welcomed Dr Nabi Omidvar, Associate Professor of AI in Finance at the University of Leeds. Dr Omidvar delivered a compelling talk on ‘Interdisciplinary Research Methods and Artificial Intelligence (AI)’, comparing research methodologies in computer science with those in the humanities and social sciences. The discussion addressed research methodologies in computer science, comparing them with approaches in the humanities and social sciences. Dr Omidvar analysed the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of these disciplines, highlighting pathways for interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing issues such as bias, privacy, and interpretability.
Looking ahead
The seminar series will continue into Semester 2 of the 2024/25 academic year, with confirmed speakers including Professor Ignacio Cofone, Professor of Law and Regulation of AI at the University of Oxford.
This successful seminar series has been generously supported by the CBLP and the Strategic Development Fund of the University of Leeds School of Law.
Learn more about research at the Centre for Business Law and Practice by clicking here.
